An overcrowded passenger bus that had taken on passengers from a broken‑down vehicle plunged from a highway into a rocky ravine in Dana Sar, a remote area near the border of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, early on Friday. The bus was likely speeding when it left the road.

The crash left at least 40 people dead and eight injured, according to multiple sources. Rescuers worked to identify the deceased and treat the injured. Accounts of the death toll differ: Dawn reported at least 24 fatalities, the BBC reported at least 32 deaths, while other outlets reported at least 40 deaths.

Reports of the bus’s route also vary. The BBC said the vehicle was travelling from Quetta to Peshawar, whereas Hindustan Times reported it was heading from Quetta to Islamabad.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti expressed grief over the loss of life and ordered authorities to ensure medical care for the injured, as reported by Al Arabiya. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari also offered condolences to families of the dead and directed authorities to provide medical care to the injured, according to GDELT.